Fishing Without Bait welcomes Vic Costik, creator of the New Rust podcast, for the first part of a conversation about Pittsburgh, community, identity, and finding the freedom to live authentically. Vic shares how moving from New York City to Pittsburgh helped him discover found family, embrace his community, and ultimately begin meeting himself for the first time.

What happens when someone you care about reveals a political belief that you never expected?

Does the relationship immediately end? Do you begin arguing? Do you reduce that person to a party label, or do you become curious about how they reached their conclusions?

Fishing Without Bait 524 concludes Jim Ellermeyer’s three-part conversation with Missy Sorg. Throughout this final installment, Jim and Missy discuss political disagreement without treating the conversation as a competition that one side must win.

Political conversations often become arguments about which side is right. In Episode 523 of Fishing Without Bait, Jim Ellermeyer and Missy Sorg attempt something different: asking what happens after the talking points end.

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Missy, and the episode moves directly into some of the most emotionally and politically difficult subjects facing families and communities.

In Fishing Without Bait 522, Jim Ellermeyer begins a new conversation with Missy Sorg about political differences, friendship, and how to keep talking when the world feels divided. Missy shares why she wanted to return to the show to discuss the pain of lost friendships, assumptions, and being reduced to a political label. Jim and Missy explore the search for common ground, the danger of “contempt prior to investigation,” and why real conversations require curiosity, respect, and a willingness to listen.

This final part moves through some powerful and deeply human territory: faith, queer history, identity, community, Pittsburgh, personal freedom, and the ongoing work of finding your voice.

Jim opens the conversation around belief, spirituality, and the idea of a power greater than ourselves. From there, Eamon and Merlin explore how culture shapes the way people see the divine, and how different traditions often describe the same light through different lenses.

The conversation with returning guests Eamon and Merlin continues in Part 3 with one of the most reflective discussions in the series.

The episode begins by exploring an idea that can transform how we see ourselves and others: choosing curiosity over certainty. Rather than clinging to beliefs simply because they're familiar, the conversation encourages asking an important question: "What if I'm wrong?" That willingness to remain open becomes a foundation for growth, learning, and mindfulness.

Throughout the episode, Eamon and Merlin share personal experiences involving family relationships, marriage, faith, forgiveness, and community. Their stories demonstrate how preconceived ideas often begin to unravel when people move beyond assumptions and engage with one another directly.

Several years after their first appearance, Eamon and Merlin return to discuss the significant changes that have shaped their lives. Central to the conversation is their decision to leave Texas and relocate to Pittsburgh, a move motivated by concerns about personal rights, safety, and the desire to live in a community where they could more fully express who they are.

The latest episode of Fishing Without Bait continues Jim Ellermeyer’s powerful conversation with returning guest Joanna Lowe in a deeply honest discussion about grief, trauma, anger, and survival.

Joanna shares the reality of living through devastating loss and what it means to survive when life no longer feels recognizable. Rather than offering easy answers, this episode explores the uncomfortable truths of grief — the loneliness, the rage, the exhaustion, and the need for human connection even when you feel disconnected from everything around you.

The latest episode of Fishing Without Bait continues Jim Ellermeyer’s powerful conversation with returning guest Joanna Lowe in a deeply honest discussion about grief, trauma, anger, and survival.

Joanna shares the reality of living through devastating loss and what it means to survive when life no longer feels recognizable. Rather than offering easy answers, this episode explores the uncomfortable truths of grief — the loneliness, the rage, the exhaustion, and the need for human connection even when you feel disconnected from everything around you.

In this powerful continuation of our conversation with Joanna Lowe, we step into one of the most difficult human experiences: profound, life-altering grief.

Joanna shares the unimaginable reality of losing her husband just months after their marriage—a loss that didn’t just break her heart, but changed her entire sense of identity, time, and connection to the world.

We’re excited to welcome Joanna Lowe back to Fishing Without Bait as we begin a new multi-part conversation.

In this first installment, Joanna shares the origin story of her spoken word career—something she never planned. In fact, it started in a moment where she felt small and powerless. Instead of retreating, she stepped onto a stage, terrified, and performed for the first time.

In episode 513 of Fishing Without Bait, Jim Ellermeyer and Mike return to the fundamentals of mindfulness and recovery—focusing on gratitude, awareness, and the people we surround ourselves with.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: everyone is in recovery from something. Whether it’s habits, thought patterns, or emotional reactions, growth begins with awareness and intentional change.

In this final part of our conversation with Jessie Notarius, known to wrestling fans as The Unwilting Tatiana, we explore what it truly means to persevere.

Jessie shares the difficult reality behind her journey—recovering from injuries, facing unexpected setbacks, and managing the emotional weight that comes with both. A recent wrist fracture has once again forced her to slow down, but instead of giving up, she’s focusing on healing and rebuilding.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Jessie Notarius—better known as The Unwilting Tatiana—we explore what it really means to value yourself and the life you’re building.

What happens when you lose what you thought was your dream job?

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, Jessie Notarius—also known as The Unwilting Tatiana—returns to share what life has looked like since her last appearance. After losing her position as a set painter for the Pittsburgh CLO due to budget cuts, Jessie found herself navigating uncertainty, disappointment, and a complete shift in direction.

What does it mean to live through something you never thought you could survive?

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, Emily returns to continue sharing her journey following her daughter McKenna’s life-saving kidney transplant. But this conversation goes beyond the medical story—it’s about what comes after.

In this continuation of Emily’s story, she shares the emotional rollercoaster of her daughter McKenna’s recovery—from moments of hope to devastating setbacks in the ICU. Through resilience, advocacy, and unwavering love, Emily recounts how she fought for her daughter’s life and ultimately prepared to give her the ultimate gift: a kidney.

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, we continue our conversation with Emily as she shares one of the most intense and emotional experiences a parent can face. What started as a normal day quickly became a medical emergency that turned her world upside down.

Returning guest Emily once shared her recovery journey with us. In this episode, she returns with a story of a different kind of strength — the strength of a mother who knew something wasn’t right.